My only exposure to Evanescence — whose album Fallen is next up in my Decades look at the year 2003 — is through this record’s cover image. I recall seeing lead singer Amy Lee’s white face and big eyes staring at me when browsing music aisles back in the day.
Evanescence is a nu metal band out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Their sound is a mix of heavy guitars and lilting piano, Metallica meets Diana Krall. It’s not surprising that they’re completely off my radar because this is not my kind of music.
Somehow, without my support, they managed to make a pretty big splash with Fallen, their debut album. The record sold 8 million copies in the U.S. and 17 million worldwide. It earned them five Grammy nominations and two wins, for Best Hard Rock Performance (‘Bring Me to Life’) and Best New Artist.
‘Bring Me to Life,’ a hard rock song with some rap flourishes, was the album’s biggest single, reaching #5 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
The better song is ‘My Immortal,’ which charted at #7. It’s a lovely piano ballad featuring a strong vocal performance by Lee.
I’m so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
‘Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won’t leave me alone
[Pre-Chorus]
These wounds won’t seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There’s just too much that time cannot erase
[Chorus]
When you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears
When you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
[Verse 2]
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I’m bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me
[Pre-Chorus]
These wounds won’t seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There’s just too much that time cannot erase
[Chorus]
When you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears
When you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
[Bridge]
I’ve tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone
But though you’re still with me
I’ve been alone all along
[Chorus/Outro]
When you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears
When you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Ah, me, ah, me, ah
Meet Me In Montauk 
They succeeded without my support either, although I am familiar with “Bring Me to Life.”
I enjoy your reviews but not many songs captivate me like this one. I love this combination of sounds and the video is fascinating. Who would leave such aan enchanting woman? Are they nuts?